Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-12-03
WILL THE NEGRO VOTE?

Some of our Northern friends have
been discussing the propriety of di-
viding the colored vote with the
democratic and republican parties.
Mr.. Fred. Douglass contends that
colored man should continue to vote
solidly with the republican parity
His reasons are many and forcible.
There seems to be a more vital ques-
ton Just now to be considered by our
republican friends-and that is, will
the colored man vote at all He can
not be convinced that it is right for
him to vote the democratic ticket, and
has sacrificed everything-even his
life-in order to vote the republican
ticket, but seeing that his vote is not
to amount to anything after these
sacrifices, he is caused to consider and
ask himself, would it not show better
judgment for him to stay away from
the polls rather than make 80 many
sacrifices for nothing?
We must say that many of our north
ern friends talk about us too much to
know SO little of us. They cannot
tell us what is best for us to do. In
many localities colored men are not
allowed to vote in other localities
their votes are thrown out and not
counted Now what should we do
in these cases? 1t has been published
how colored men were prevented from
voting in Norfolk, Va, very recently.
That is one of the most common prac-
tees in North Carolina challenging,
hindering in every conceivable way,
so as to prevent their voting.
In is now question, should and
will the colored man vote under such
circumstances Is it wise in him to
persist in sacrificing friendship, time,
and even life, when there is no hope
of good resulting from it? The
colored man is not much of an office
holder, and when he wishes to hold
an office, we often find white republic
cans uniting with democrats, or hiring
other colored men to run, so as to de-
feat all colored aspirants. And if one
is elected in defiance to the wishes of
white republicans, if it is a bonded
office, the moneyed men of the party
refuse to go on his bond, and this last
extreme is resorted to to cheat us out
of our votes. And will the colored
man still persist in voting?
Yes, he will vote The masses will
continue to vote, even though they
know not what they vote for In
North Carolina, Virginia and Tennes-
see, the colored man votes, but in
South Carolina and Georgia it is only
parts Of the State in which he votes.
Let our good northern friends set
aside the effects of the eight box sys-
tenn in the Carolinas, and the preiu-
dice of our own party leaders against
worthy men on account of color, and
let them advise us how to get our
ballots in and counted, and we assure
them the ballots will be Of the right
kind. The question with us is Z: How
can we get our votes in and counted
as we cast them ? We are not con-
templating change yet. The prin
ciples of the republican party are
good enough for us yet, even though
some of the leaders are unworthy
their places
As between republicans and demo-
cratic parties, there is only one choice
for a colored man to make but in
many other contests we have, in which
there is no politics, then the colored
vote should be divided like other
men, according to their interests.
ENFORCING A BAD LAW.